happen
/'hæpən/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Verb:
- To take place or occur: "Happen" refers to an event or situation coming into existence or taking place, often without a specific plan or intention.
- To occur by chance: It describes something taking place without being planned or expected.
- To encounter or find by chance: "Happen" can mean to come upon something or someone unexpectedly.
Examples of Usage
- Verb:
- What is happening? (An event is occurring.)
- The accident happened last night. (The accident took place last night.)
- I happened to see your brother at the mall. (I saw your brother by chance at the mall.)
- She happened upon an old friend in the park. (She met an old friend by chance in the park.)
Advanced Usage
- "As it happens": Used to introduce a piece of information that is true by coincidence.
- As it happens, I have a spare ticket for the concert. (Coincidentally, I have an extra ticket.)
- "Happen to be/do something": Used to indicate that something is the case by chance.
- Do you happen to know the time? (Do you, by any chance, know the time?)
- "If anything should happen to...": Used to express concern about a possible future event affecting someone or something.
- If anything should happen to me, please take care of my cat. (In the event that something occurs to me.)
Variants and Related Words
- Happening (n): An event or occurrence.
- The concert was a memorable happening.
- Happenchance (n, archaic): A chance occurrence.
Synonyms
- Occur: To take place.
- Take place: To happen.
- Befall: To happen, especially something bad (more literary).
- Materialize: To become a reality.
- Transpire: To occur (often used in formal contexts).
Related Phrasal Verbs
- Happen on/upon: To find or meet someone or something by chance.
- He happened on a rare coin in the market. (He found a rare coin by chance.)
- Happen along: To arrive or appear by chance.
- She happened along just as we needed help. (She arrived by chance at the right moment.)
Related Idioms
- Accidents will happen: Used to say that it is inevitable that unfortunate or unexpected events will occur sometimes.
- Don't worry about spilling the milk; accidents will happen.
- These things happen: Used to console someone by saying that unfortunate events are a normal part of life.
- I'm sorry you missed the bus, but these things happen.
Verb
- come upon, as if by accident; meet with
- We find this idea in Plato
- I happened upon the most wonderful bakery not very far from here
- She chanced upon an interesting book in the bookstore the other day
- come into being; become reality
- Her dream really materialized
- chance to be or do something, without intention or causation
- I happen to have just what you need!
- happen, occur, or be the case in the course of events or by chance
- It happens that today is my birthday
- These things befell (Santayana)
- come to pass
- What is happening?
- The meeting took place off without an incidence
- Nothing occurred that seemed important